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Video Shooting Guide

Learn How to Make a Video Ad

How to Shoot Footage for a Video Ad

HOW TO SHOOT FOOTAGE FOR A VIDEO AD

Videos are becoming major players in the new frontier of internet marketing. Recent data reports impressive ROI for video content. 

TREATMENT VIDEOS

There are many types of videos. There are brand videos that feature the exterior and interior of your business and establish your mission, vision, and uniqueness. There are interviews. There are video testimonials. There are explainer videos and there are treatment videos.

Some of the highest converting video ads feature treatments. Viewers love seeing treatments in action. Moreover, treatment footage is some of the easiest videos to shoot.

THE PURPOSE OF TREATMENT VIDEOS

Video ads featuring treatments accomplish three important objectives:

Demonstrates the “product” in action.

Builds publicity for the product and your brand.

Drives traffic to your website.

EXAMPLES OF TREATMENT VIDEOS

Below, we provide examples of how to film videos for treatments such as CoolSculpting, Emsculpt, Botox, and HydraFacials. However, these concepts are universal for all aesthetic treatments. 

COOLSCULPTING VIDEOS

If you want to shoot a great CoolSculpting treatment video, include the following shots:

  • The technician squeezing or pinching the treatment area
  • The technician marking up the treatment area
  • The technician applying the gel pad and applicator
  • The technician pushing the CoolSculpting button on the machine to activate the cycle
  • The patient relaxing during their freezing cycle
  • The technician removing the applicator
  • The bulge of fat (audiences love seeing the "butterstick" of fat that is left immediately after removing the applicator)
  • The technician massaging the treatment area

Here are really great examples of CoolSculpting treatment videos from SKINNEY Medspa:

 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by SKINNEY Medspa® (@skinneymedspa)

EMSCULPT VIDEOS

If you want to shoot a great Emsculpt treatment video, include the following shots: 

  • The technician prepping the treatment area
  • The technician applying the applicators
  • The technician pushing the Emsculpt button on the machine
  • The patient's initial reaction to the HIFEM energy
  • The patient chilling during the treatment
  • The technician removing the applicators

Here are really great examples of treatment videos from SKINNEY Medspa:

BOTOX VIDEOS

Treatment videos featuring Botox, Juvéderm, or other injectables are very popular. Unfortunately, many social media platforms ban the imagery of needles. To bypass this limitation, use a pen or a pointer instead of a syringe. Include the following shots:

  • Consulting with the patient. The doctor should be touching the face, depicting the filling or smoothing effect the patient will receive from the treatment.
  • Use a pen or pointer to show the areas that will be injected

Here are really great examples of treatment videos from Concierge Medspa and Spa Trouvé:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Spa Trouve (@spatrouve)

CREATING AUTHENTICITY

Videos are great at generating social proof, as long as they seem authentic. Audiences trust authentic videos, such as user-generated content, over videos that look professionally made to promote the brand. Here is a great example from Aesthetics Hawaii and SKINNEY Medspa:

TIPS for SHOOTING GOOD QUALITY VIDEO

You don’t have to be a professional to shoot good-quality footage for your video ad. Your smartphone is the only piece of equipment you’ll need. Just make sure your lens is clean and follow the steps below.

SHOOT IN PORTRAIT MODE

There are two shooting modes: Portrait and Landscape. For video ads that will be posted on social media platforms, the best shooting mode is Portrait.

FILMING FOR MULTIPLE PLATFORMS

Each social media platform will stretch or crop your video to fit the dimensions of their platform. If you want to post a video on different platforms, shoot in portrait mode. This is the easiest mode to crop for different platforms.

If you shoot in landscape mode, make sure you are zoomed out, with the subject centered in the frame. Leave room on all sides of the subject. This will allow us to crop the video to fit on multiple platforms. Be aware that shooting in landscape mode makes the video harder to crop and you may lose part of the shot in the editing process.

LIGHTING

Light is critical for ensuring good video quality.

  • Make sure the room is well lit.
  • Natural light is best.
  • Do not use your camera’s flash.
  • If you need more light, consider one of the following: a Ring Light that fits onto your smartphone or Soft Box Lights. Either can be found on Amazon at an affordable price.
  • Don’t drown out the subject. Make sure the person being filmed is facing the window, not standing in front of it.

DO NOT ZOOM

Zooming in and out while filming is distracting. Furthermore, the zoom feature decreases the video quality. If you need a closer view, step forward. Remember, social media platforms may require us to crop your shot. It is best to have room on all sides of the subject you are filming. If we need to zoom in for a better shot, we can do it during the editing process.

Also, consider ad policies, such as Facebook’s, that restrict close-up shots of body parts.

AUDIO

85% of Facebook videos are viewed with the sound muted. Unless you are creating a testimonial, interview, or explainer video, try to limit dialogue. Rather, we will edit your video to tell a story through images. If you speak in your video, speak louder than usual. Anything spoken should also be subtitled.

LOCK AUTOFOCUS

Avoid focusing in and out by locking the focus and exposure point on your phone. This is as simple as tapping and holding your finger on the screen.

SHOOT PLENTY OF B ROLL

B-roll refers to video footage that is shot secondary to the main (or A-roll) footage. We use B-roll footage in the editing process to enhance the story of your video.
An example of B-roll footage could be:
  • A shot of your business's exterior
  • Unscripted or undirected footage that helps the video seem more authentic
  • A shot of a machine or applicator
  • Pushing the button on a machine
  • Patient walking into the treatment room
  • Patient enjoying one of the luxuries you offer (beverages, robes, Netflix)

SENDING US THE VIDEO

Medstar Media is here to help you start marketing your business via video ads. All you have to do is shoot the footage. We’ll edit the footage to make a high-converting ad.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

Once you are done shooting, send us your footage. If you spoke in your video, please send us a script so we can add subtitles.

PRESERVE THE VIDEO QUALITY

Send us your video via google drive or dropbox. (Emailing us the video or sending us a link to download a previously posted video from social media will degrade the quality.)